All three morning shows on Monday railed against BP CEO Tony Hayward for
attending a yachting race in England on Saturday, but they found no such anger
for Barack
Obama's[1] golf outing on the same day, ignoring the story. The pattern was
nearly identical on Sunday, with only Good Morning America briefly mentioning
the President's recreational activities.

On Monday's Early Show, Katie Couric appeared and derided, "But that image of
Tony Hayward participating in that yacht race over the weekend probably hurt his
image even more, as if that's possible." Good Morning America's Sharyn Alfonsi
indignantly reported, "...Tony Hayward goes sailing, but residents weren't the
only ones wondering what was he thinking?"

On Monday's GMA, ABC reporter Alfonsi featured a clip of Emanuel mocking,
"Tony Hayward is not going to have a second career in PR consulting." The PR
problems for the President went unmentioned by Alfonsi.

Today on Monday featured Matt Lauer asserting that Hayward is "under renewed
fire, this time for attending a glamorous yacht race." On Sunday's GMA, Alfonsi
chided the event as a "ritzy yacht race."

In total, Monday's Today, Good Morning America and Early
Show all ran full reports on Hayward's activities. On Sunday, Today and GMA did
the same thing. Sunday Morning ran an anchor brief on the race.

The only mention of Obama's golfing came during an exchange between Sunday
GMA co-host Bill Weir and guest Jake Tapper, anchor of This Week:

BILL WEIR: I understand after your interview with Emanuel there, the White
House announced that the President was spending his day golfing with vice
president Biden. So, some might criticize that since the President has made
clear he is ultimately the man in charge. The White House responded to those
criticisms?

JAKE TAPPER: Well, I don't think they would see it exactly the same thing,
yachting in a pristine environment by the man who runs the company responsible
for this great environmental disaster is not the same thing as the President
taking in some holes at a military base golf course, they say. Although
Republicans say people on golf courses shouldn't throw stones.

If it's poor form to yacht while the Gulf Coast suffers one of the worst
environmental and economic disasters in history, one would think the same would
be true for the President. Viewers who watched the network morning shows
wouldn't know that, however.

A transcript of Monday's GMA segment on Hayward, which aired at 7:04,
follows:

ROBIN ROBERTS: Meanwhile, though, BP's CEO Tony Hayward is under mounting
pressure to resign. So, what did he do this time? Sharyn Alfonsi is in
Louisiana with more than on that. Good morning, Sharyn.

SHARYN ALFONSI: Good morning, Robin, Well, just when you think people here
couldn't be positive more outraged, Tony Hayward goes sailing but residents
weren't the only ones wondering what was he thinking? Today, this image of
Tony Hayward racing ace 50-foot yacht off the coast. [Talking to a resident.]
What does that say to you?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: That he really doesn't give a flying flip about any of us
That's amazing.

ALABAMA GOVERNOR BOB RILEY (R): I don't know how many yachts are over there.
But put a skimmer on the back of them, bring them back over here because we
certainly need them.

ALFONSI: A spokesman for BP says Hayward's day off was a rare moment of
private time. And said that "no matter where he is, he's always in touch with
what's happening within BP." But, critics say he's clearly out of touch with
everyone else.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: He wants his life back. Maybe he's trying to go on with his
normal life, you know? It's unfortunate we can't do that.

RAHM EMANUEL (White House chief of staff): Tony Hayward is not going to have
a second career in PR consulting.

ALFONSI: Exactly what Hayward's job is these days is unclear. BP's chairman
told Britain's Sky News that Hayward was being relieved from the day-to-day
operations dealing with the leak.

CARL HENRIC SVANBERG (Chairman, BP): He's now handing over the operations,
the daily operations, to Bob Dudley. And he will be more home then be here.

ALFONSI: But, a day later, a BP spokesman said until the leak is capped, Tony
Hayward is very much in charge. [A picture of him on his yacht appears
onscreen.] Hayward at the helm, now navigating hot water. And Tony Hayward
did issue a statement of sorts this weekend by twitter. He said, "The oil spill
is still my top priority." That message came after that race. That is a real
hard sell down here in the gulf right now. George?

-Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here[2] to follow him on
Twitter.

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